One of the highlights each year, is the annual visit in February to Te Aroha, New Zealand to spend time with my mother. This year she turned 95 years young. Since immigrating from Holland in 1951, Te Aroha has been her hometown and of course it is where I grew up. Where she now lives, she is surrounded by a community of older, retired folk who look out for each other. They are a special group of people, and it is always a joy to catch up with them when staying with Mum. Each visit I spend one morning at Waihi Beach to capture a sunrise…it has sort of become a tradition. Taking a road trip for a morning is something we both enjoy and often, in the evening around sunrise I will drive around the town to capture the fleeting colours heralding the end of the day. Te Aroha has now become more of a tourist destination with access to the Hauraki Rail Trail in which you can hire a bike and pedal around the countryside. The Te Aroha Mineral Spa pools is a very popular place and walking up Te Aroha mountain or part way if you prefer, is a very enjoyable way to exercise. I have already booked my ticket for 2024!

…taking a drive around the town and shooting the mountain. At the top of the mountain is a 126 metre television repeater transmission station. The lights of the tower used to be a beacon when travelling at night, but unfortunately the lights were turned off a few years ago. The tower however, still remains.